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enEredivisie Wrap: AZ Alkmaar up to thirdAZ boosted their hopes of sealing automatic European qualification in the Eredivisie on Saturday with goals in either half as they beat Willem II 2-0.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-az-move-third-propper-fires-vitesse-victory
John van den Brom's side needed 41 minutes before they were able to open the scoring at the AFAS Stadion; Steven Berghuis' sixth goal of the campaign giving the hosts the lead.
A nervy second half followed, although Dabney dos Santos eased the pressure with a goal in stoppage time, lifting AZ into third.
Davy Propper helped lift Vitesse above PEC Zwolle with the decisive goal in their clash at the GelreDome, the young striker lifting the ball over Warner Hahn four minutes after the hour to seal a 2-1 win.
Mustafa Saymak had given the visitors a good start with a diving header inside the fifth minute, only for Bertrand Traore to level things up after 34 minutes.
Vitesse could have gone into the break ahead with a late penalty but Marko Vejinovic blazed over from 12 yards, leaving Propper to be their match winner.
Twente thought they had ended a four-match losing run against NAC Breda thanks to Luc Castaignos' early goal but Erik Falkenburg snatched a point for the visitors with two minutes to play.
The 1-1 draw moved NAC closer to safety at the bottom, while piling the pressure on Twente boss Alfred Schreuder.
Meanwhile, Sander van de Streek's sixth goal of the campaign was enough to give Cambuur a ninth league win, the 21-year-old's 19th minute strike enough to earn a 1-0 victory over Heracles.
news_articleSat, 28 Feb 2015 22:20:11 +0000352718 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: AZ Alkmaar up to thirdAZ returned to winning ways, going third in the Eredivisie with a 2-0 win at Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday, while Zwolles losing run stretched to three games.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-az-third-three-defats-spin-zwolle
Simon Poulsen put AZ ahead just after the half-hour mark, bundling in from close range after Go Ahead Eagles failed to clear a corner for the visitors.
The home side edged the possession at De Adelaarshorst, but AZ generally controlled proceedings and John van den Brom's men eventually doubled their lead with 58 minutes gone.
Dabney dos Santos played a well-timed throughball into the edge of the area for Robert Muhren and the forward stroked beyond Mickey van der Hart in the hosts' goal, lifting AZ above Feyenoord ahead of their clash with Excelsior on Sunday.
Zwolle suffered their third successive league defeat, losing 3-2 at ADO Den Haag to fall five points behind AZ in the battle for automatic continental qualification.
The visitors had seemingly stolen a point at the death, coming from two down to go level in the first minute of second-half stoppage time thanks to goals from Ben Rienstra and Mustafa Saymak.
But Michiel Kramer netted his 14th league goal of the season a few moments later to secure a dramatic late win for Den Haag.
The day's final game saw Utrecht claim a 1-1 draw at Heracles, with the home side - who had Jeroen Veldmate dismissed late on -failing to hoist themselves out of the bottom three.
news_articleSat, 21 Feb 2015 22:58:12 +0000348471 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: Heracles defeat FeyenoordFeyenoords UEFA Champions League hopes were dealt a blow as they lost further ground on second-placed Ajax after going down 2-0 at relegation-threatened Heracles.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-heracles-beat-feyenoord-den-haag-rally-downs-breda
Fred Rutten's men could have moved to within two points of Eredivisie champions Ajax with a win at the Polman Stadion.
However, the visitors fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Bryan Linssen took advantage of some slack Feyenoord defending to hit a wonderful curling half-volley over a stranded Kenneth Vermeer.
Thomas Bruns then powered home a header five minutes from time to lift Heracles to 15th, while Feyenoordwillgo eight points behind Ajax if Frank de Boer's side win at home to Twente on Sunday.
A Demy de Zeeuw double was not enough for NAC Breda, as they went down 3-2 at ADO Den Haag.
MichielKramer scored in between De Zeeuw's two goals, withXanderHoutkoop again levelling for the hosts in the 76th minute.
And so it was left to Kramer to net the winner five minutes from time, movingDen Haag four points clear of the relegation play-off spots.
Elsewhere, Excelsior and Groningen played out a 1-1 draw, while Vitesse beat Willem II 2-0.
news_articleSat, 14 Feb 2015 21:51:31 +0000343959 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: De Boer expects Ajax resurgenceFrank de Boer believes Ajaxs fortuitous2-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles last weekend can provide a platform for anupturn in form as they take on Twente on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-de-boer-expects-ajax-resurgence-leaders-psv-visit-az
A three-match winless league run saw theEredivisie champions lose ground on leaders PSV - who have a 12-point lead at the top of the table.
It appeared as though Ajax were set to drop points once more when they were level with the Eagles heading into the final few minutes of normal time.
However, a costly error from goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart,who is on loan at the Eagles from Ajax,in the 88th minutehanded De Boer's men a maximum haul.
"The team is fighting, but in a good way," De Boer told Ajax's official website.
"This is the start of an attempt to rise aboveour poor matches. Anwar El Ghazi's goal [versus Go AheadEagles] is an example that shows a bit of confidence and is something good to build on."
Ajax,who drew 1-1 with Twente in October's reverse fixture,could find themselves 15 points off the pace by the time of their match at the Amsterdam Arena as PSV faceAZ on Friday.
Phillip Cocu's men have been near unstoppable in the Eredivisieof late, withthe club winning 14 of their past 15 league matches - their last loss coming in September.
However, PSV will need to be wary of an AZ side who are five unbeaten in the league and the UEFA Champions League hopefuls can take heart from a2-1 winin last season's corresponding fixture.
On Saturday, strugglers NAC Breda travel to ADO Den Haag hoping that off-field problems will play no part on it.
It was revealed earlier this week that Milos Zukanovic,a transfer-window arrivalfrom Red Star Belgrade,had appeared for Breda without a required work permit, with the club - who are 17th - now under investigation by the Dutch Football Association.
Also on Saturday, lowly Heracles welcome third-placed Feyenoord, Excelsior host Groningen and Willem II visit Vitesse.
Sunday sees Heerenveen,whose coach Dwight Lodeweges signed a one-year contract extension this week,hit the road to play Cambuur, rock-bottom Dordrecht head to Utrecht, and Zwolle host the Eagles.
news_articleWed, 11 Feb 2015 16:48:48 +0000341828 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: Ajax benefit from gaffeA goalkeeping gaffe from Mickey van der Hart handed his parent club Ajax a 2-1 Eredivisie victory at Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-ajax-benefit-van-der-hart-gaffe-feyenoord-beat-cambuur
Frank de Boer's Ajax sideappeared to be heading for a fourth league game without a win when they were pegged back at 1-1 with time running out at De Adelaarshorst..
However, Van der Hart - who is on a season-long loan from Ajax - failed to connect when he attempted to clearWesley Verhoek's back-pass and could only watch as the ball trickled into the goal.
Anwar ElGhazi put Ajax ahead in 24th minute when he tapped home at the back post to complete a flowing move from the Dutchchampions.
It appeared as though 15th-placed Go Ahead would claim a much-welcome point in the whenSjoerd Overgoor let fly with a stunning left-foot shot from 25-yards that nestled in the left-hand corner 14 minutes from time.
But Van der Hart's error in the 88th minute denied Foeke Booy's men a share of the spoilsand ensured Ajax are12points behindleaders PSV.
Goals either side of half-time from Karim El Ahmadi and Colin Kazim-Richards helped Feyenoord to a 2-1 victory over Cambuur, having suffered a defeat againstHeerenveen last weekend.
The visitors pulled a goal back through Martijn Barto just after the hour despite having Bartholomew Ogbeche sent off, but Cambuur have now lost five in a row in all competitions.
Groningen suffered a first home league defeat since last March after surrenderinga 2-0 half-time lead to go down 4-2 againstAZ.
Erwin van de Looi's side appeared well in control as an own-goal from Steven Berghuis and Michael de Leeuw's strike put them in control.
However, the hosts capitulated after the break -Berghuis scoringat the right end to start the comeback, before Jeffrey Gouweleeuw struckand a brace from Markus Henriksen sent AZ up to fourth.
Elsewhere, struggling Heracles' winless run stretched to nine matches as they suffered a3-0 loss at Willem II.
news_articleSun, 08 Feb 2015 18:32:20 +0000339993 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: Ajax look to end slumpAjax coach Frank de Boer refuses to be drawn into Eredivisie title talk during his teams form slump.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-ajax-look-end-slump
De Boer's men are winless in three league matches and have lost two in a row, seeing them slip 12 points behind table-topping PSV.
Losses at Vitesse and at home to AZ have been a huge blow to Ajax's chances of winning Eredivisie for a fifth straight season.
Aron Johannsson's second-half goal, after Ajax were reduced to 10 men due to Niklas Moisander's red card, led AZ to their win.
De Boer urged his team to build on their first-half performance when they visit Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday, with the league lead not on his mind.
"One point from three matches is not enough for Ajax," he said.
"At this time, we should therefore not look at the lead, but first focus on our own game.
"Ajax should build on the game in the first half."
It shapes as being a much-needed win for Ajax, with their opponents sitting just three points clear of the relegation play-off spots.
But PSV are in control of their own destiny, and they host Utrecht on Saturday.
Phillip Cocu's side have lost just twice in the league this season, with the last of those defeats in September last year.
Memphis Depay has continued his good form.
The Netherlands international's 13 league goals is the most in Eredivisie this season, and he has struck in three consecutive games.
At the other end of the table, lowly Dordrecht desperately need a win as they host ADO Den Haag on Saturday.
NAC Breda are winless in six matches ahead of a clash against Vitesse, while Heracles travel to Willem II.
Fresh from their win over Ajax, AZ will look to continue their push towards the top two when they visit Groningen.
Twente take on Excelsior, Heerenveen meet PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord host Cambuur.
news_articleFri, 06 Feb 2015 02:41:39 +0000338268 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: Stumbling Ajax face AZThe pressure is set to mount on stumbling champions Ajax, as they aim to keep PSV Eindhovens lead in the Eredivisie to less than10 points.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-stumbling-ajax-face-az
Ajax will host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, two days after PSV will travel to second-bottom NAC Breda, meaning Frank de Boer's men are likely to be 12 points behind their Eindhoven-based rivals at kick-off at Amsterdam Arena.
Winless in their past two matches, Ajax have dropped to nine points behind PSV, who have won seven straight games.
Speaking after Ajax's 1-0 loss at Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday, midfielder Davy Klaasen slammed his team's 'amateur' performance.
"I really thought today we played as amateurs. More I cannot do," Klaasen told Fox Sports.
"We have to win our games and then hope that PSV will collapse. That's what we should do. It should at least be better than today."
Ajax's poor form has come as rumours claiming De Boer may leave for Newcastle United gain momentum.
With Alan Pardew having left St James' Park for Crystal Palace, Newcastle are looking for a new manager and De Boer is considered a genuine option as Ajax have drawn with Feyenoord and lost to Vitesse.
But Ajax director of football Marc Overmars said his former club and international team-mate will stay in Amsterdam.
"I do not think he will leave after this season and I hope it does not happen," Overmars told Voetbal International.
"We are very happy with Frank and we want to continue with him for years."
AZ will arrive in Amsterdam in fifth position in the Eredivisie after a 3-1 defeat of Heracles on Sunday.
John van den Brom's men will be looking to become the first AZ side to win at the Amsterdam Arena in the league, but they will have to do so without Celso Ortiz, with the Paraguayan midfielder having broken his arm against Heracles.
On Tuesday, PSV will travel to NAC hoping to extend Breda's winless run to six games in the Dutch top division, just three days after their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Willem II.
Memphis Depay struck the winner in the 87th minute to join Heerenveen's Marc Uthas the league's top scorers with 12 goals.
Third-placed Feyenoord will hope to take advantage of any Ajax slip-up by winning at Heerenveen on Wednesday, while PEC Zwolle - who are fourth - will look to the same against bottom club Dordrecht.
Go Ahead Eagles and Excelsior will start the mid-week round on Tuesday, while ADO Den Haag will host Twente, Utrecht will visit Willem II, Vitesse will clash with Cambuur and Heracles face Groningen.
news_articleMon, 02 Feb 2015 04:12:09 +0000335694 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: Durdevic dents Ajax title defenceA sublime goal from Uros Durdevic saw Ajax suffer a 1-0 defeat at Vitesse on Sunday and fall nine points behindEredivisie leadersPSV.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-durdevic-dents-ajax-title-defence
Frank de Boer had warned thereigning champions could ill-afford to slip up against a side that thrashed them 4-0 in the Dutch Cup in December.
However, after PSV's victory against Willem II on Saturday,that is exactly what happened asSerbian striker Durdevic produced a wonderful piece of skill to win the game for Vitesse in the 85th minute.
The striker controlled a high ball into the box on his chest before flicking over a defender's head and turning to power a half-volleyinto the net from 12 yards for his first Eredivisie goal.
Ajax were therefore condemned to athird defeat of the season, whichallowedFeyenoord to close the gap on De Boer's second-placed side to five points with their 2-1 win against ADO Den Haag.
Fred Rutten's men were two goals in front after 20 minutes,Lex Immers scramblingin the openerbefore TimothyDerijck's clearance ended up in his own net.
Mikevan Duinen pulled one back three minutes after half-time but the Rotterdam club held on to remain unbeaten in four.
PEC Zwollestayed two points behindFeyenoord after a 2-0 success at Utrecht, which came thanks to goals in each half from Thomas Lam and Stef Nijland.
And AZ retained fifth position after AronJohannsson's early goal set John van den Brom's side on their way to a 3-1home win against Heracles.
Steven Berghuisadded a second after half-time and, although Brahim Darri reduced the deficit, Markus Henriksenrestored AZ'stwo-goal cushion late on.
news_articleSun, 01 Feb 2015 18:54:35 +0000335445 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: De Boer warning for AjaxFrank de Boer knows Ajax have little room for manoeuvreas they chase a recordfifth consecutive Eredivisie title.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-de-boer-warning-ajax-leaders-psv-host-willem-ii
The champions head to Vitesse on Sunday facing what will be a nine-point gap to PSV if the leaders beat Willem II the day before.
Ajax have only lost twice in the league this season, but last weekend's goaless draw against Feyenoord saw them fall further off the paceand De Boer recognises that their title defence has reached a crucial stage.
"Six points is the maximum [gap]," De Boer told the club's official website. "We put ourselves under pressure with a draw against Feyenoord.
"Nothing can go wrong now, it is obviously more difficult, you get more difficult matches."
Added to the significance of a win is the opportunity for revenge after Vitesse knocked Ajax out of the Dutch Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 win in December.
PSV will be confident of making it seven top-flight wins in a rowwhen they host Willem II, having scored three goals against Saturday's visitors in each of the last three meetings and not lost to since 2004.
Like Vitesse, Willem II have seen recent poor form put a dent in their hopes of a top-eight finish, which would secure a UEFA Europea League play-off berth.
Third-placed Feyenoord have their eyes on Europe's premier club competition and they host strugglingADO Den Haag.
Rock-bottom Dordrecht breathed new life into theircampaign with a 1-0 win over Excelsior last time out - just their second of the season - and they welcome Heerenveen.
NAC Breda sit one place and four points above Dordrecht, with Excelsior up next forRobert Maaskant's side.
Maaskant hasbeen boosted by the arrival of Ajax full-back Ruben Ligeon on loan until the end of the seasonand the 22-year-old is expected to make his debut this weekend.
Elsewhere, Heracles visit AZ,fourth-placed PEC Zwolle travel to Utrecht, Groningen host Go Ahead Eagles, and sixth plays eighth as Twente welcome Cambuur to Enschede.
news_articleWed, 28 Jan 2015 19:33:54 +0000332833 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie: Twente 2 Heracles 0Second-half goals from Jesus Corona and substitute Bilal Ould-Chikh enabled Twente to beat struggling Heracles 2-0 in the Eredivisie on Friday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/twente-2-heracles-0-strugglers-left-rue-zomer-error
Corona pounced on a defensive howler from Ramon Zomer to put the hosts ahead just after the hour mark.
Zomer was too casual as he attempted to pass back to goalkeeper Dennis Telgenkamp mark and Corona showed rapid reactions to stretch and prod the ball home.
Twente were also twice denied by the frame of the goal as both Corona and Ould-Chikh struck the crossbar.
Ould-Chikh, however, got the goal that his lively cameo from the bench deserved as he unleashed a dipping effort from the edge of the area that was almost an identical effort to the one that he cannoned off the top of the bar minutes earlier.
Victory for Twente leaves them a point behind fourth-placed PEC Zwolle, while Heracles slumped to a third successive league defeat without scoring.
news_articleFri, 23 Jan 2015 21:33:01 +0000329774 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: Rutten defeats former employersFeyenoord moved back up to third in the Eredivisie table with a comfortable 3-1 win over Twente on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-rutten-defeats-former-employers-go-ahead-eagles-lose-again
Fred Rutten emerged victorious against his former team as Feyenoord defeated fellow European hopefuls Twente 3-1 on Sunday.
Rutten, who is reportedly set to be offered a new contract at Feyenoord, played over 300 times for Twente and has coached them on two separate occasions, but there was no room for sentiment as the home side secured all three points.
It would have been even worse for Twente had Colin Kazim-Richards converted a37th-minute penalty beforeLex Immers headed Feyenoord ahead less than a minute later.
Jens Toornstra scored Feyenoord's second with a close-range volley in the 59th minute to cancel out Orlando Engelaar's equaliser and Jean-Paul Boetiusadded athird when heturnedin Kazim-Richards' low cross two minutes later.
The result ensuresRutten's men moved back up to third, eight points behind second-placed Ajax, while sixth-placed Twente area further six points adrift.
Struggling Go Ahead Eagles slumped to a fourth successive league defeat at the hands of Willem II, with Giliano Wijnaldum's 78th-minute red card for a second bookable offence added to their woes.
Robert Braber scored the only goal of the game for JurgenStreppel's side to end their run of three consecutive losses.
Excelsior gave their survival chances a boost, as they won 3-0 at strugglingHercales to end a run of seven without a win and subsequently move four points clear of the bottom three.
The day's only other game saw Heerenveen move back into the UEFA Europa League play-off places with a 2-1 triumph at Utrecht, whom the visitors leapt above in the process.
news_articleSun, 18 Jan 2015 20:00:56 +0000326662 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: PSVs Cocu in confident moodPhillip Cocu is backing PSV to win the Eredivisie title ahead of the leaders return to action against Vitesse.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-cocu-confident-mood-ahead-vitesse-visit
Phillip Cocu believes PSV have the mentality necessaryto further their push towards the Eredivisie title ahead of their return to action at Vitesse.
Cocu's men lead the Dutch top flight by four points in their attempt to break Ajax's dominance of recent years.
And Cocu is adamant that his side have what it takes to deny the capital club a fifth straight title.
"We will not just defend our lead but attempt to widen the gap with our nearest rivals," Cocu said.
"We work hard to achieve our aim; the players show great work ethic and know what it takes to be a successful professional football player.
"We've hardly ever failed to meet expectations this season and bounced back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat. We've put on solid team displays, feel confident when a game kicks off and trust each other.
"Actually the differences between last season and the current campaign are not that big. Small details make the difference. We've scored more goals from set pieces and conceded fewer.
"We really operate as a team and if we manage to maintain that spirit in the upcoming seventeen league games, we stand a fair chance to reach our aim."
Ajax have the chance to put pressure on PSV when they host Groningenon Friday.
The champions will be keen to focus on football again after a mid-season break that has seen coach Frank de Boer come out and deny rumours linking him with the vacant head coach role at Premier League side Newcastle United.
Striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson has also been reported to be heading for the exit door, with Lille said to be interested.
But history suggests that Ajax will have no problem putting those issues behind them versus a club that has never beaten the hosts at the Amsterdam Arena.
Feyenoord have been cut adrift from the top two, however, general director Eric Gudde has announced that the Rotterdam club are keen to sign coach Fred Rutten to a new deal.
Rutten can further hiscase for an improved contract by beating fellowEuropean hopefulsTwente, while PEC Zwolle and AZ should be confident of boosting their Europa League credentials against strugglers NAC Breda and Dordecht respectively.
Heracles welcome Excelsior to Almelo in an encounter that could prove crucial at the wrong end of the table, and relegation threatened Go Ahead Eagles visit Willem II.
Elsewhere, ADO Den Haag meet Cambuur and Heerenveen travel to Utrecht.
news_articleThu, 15 Jan 2015 14:25:29 +0000324550 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Wrap: Ajax leave it late, Vitesse win​Ajax left it late as they beat Excelsior 2-0 on Sunday and maintained the pressure on PSV at the top of the Eredivisie.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-review-ajax-leave-it-late-vitesse-finally-win
The defending champions started the day seven points adrift of Philip Cocu's sidebut goals from Mike van der Hoorn and Richairo Zivkovic means they go into the mid-season break just four behind.
Ajax started slowly at the Stadio Woudestein and needed Japser Cillessen to keep them in the game with two saves from Ninos Gouriye.
Frank de Boer's substitutions breathed new life into the visitors, though, and two of those introduced struck to secure the win.
Just 60 seconds after coming on, Van der Hoorn broke the deadlock 83 minutes inbeforefellow sub Zivkovic doubled theadvantage in the final minute with his first goal for the club.
Feyenoord remain eight points behind Ajax going into the break after they got back to winning ways against NAC Breda.
Colin Kazim-Richards struck the decisive goal in their 1-0 winafter 32 minutes -the Turkish striker's seventh goal of the campaignand fourth in as many league matches.
Vitesse recorded their first win since mid-October with a comprehensive display against Heracles asthree first-half goalssecureda 3-0 victoryat the GelreDome.
Bertrand Traore's bracetookhis tally to five in his last three matches, while Zakaria Labyad also got himself on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, Twente produced a stunning comeback to end their three-game winless run with a 3-2 victory over Willem II.
Youness Mokhtar opened the scoring for Alfred Schreuder's side after 12 minutes, but, with nine minutes to play, they found themselves 2-1 behind and down to 10 men after Renato Tapia's dismissal.
However, two goals in stoppage time from Andreas Bjelland and Torgeir Borven snatched what had seemed an unlikely win.
news_articleSun, 21 Dec 2014 17:56:44 +0000309266 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie Preview: PSV take on ailing EaglesEredivisie leaders PSV take on Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday as they look to strengthen their position heading into the mid-season break.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/eredivisie-preview-leaders-psv-take-struggling-eagles
Phillip Cocu's men currently hold a four-point advantage over reigning champions Ajax at the top of the table, following their last-gasp 4-3 victory overFeyenoord on Wednesday.
The Eindhoven outfit will be keen to extend their nine-match league unbeaten run when they host their struggling opponents at the Philips Stadion.
With the division set to take a four-week hiatus as the league reaches the halfway stage, Cocu and his players will be hoping to at least maintain their lead over Ajax.
Foeke Booy's Eagles come into the clash 15th in the table, just one point and one placeabove the relegation play-off places, having won onlyonce in their past seven outings.
Just below them are ADO Den Haag, who travel to mid-table Heerenveen in the round's opening fixture on Friday.
The clash sees the division's joint-top goalscorers go head-to-head, with Den Haag's Michiel Kramer and Heerenveen's Marc Uth both having 11 goals to their name thus far.
It is a second successive game against a bottom-three side for Dwight Lodeweges' Heerenveen, who ended an eight-match winless sequence with a 2-0 success at NAC Breda last time out.
Second-bottom Breda host Feyenoord, with the visitorshoping to bounce back from Wednesday's dramatic defeat.
Cut adrift at the foot of the table, with just one victory and six points to their name, are Dordrecht, who host Groningen.
Ajax look the only side likely to challenge PSV for the title, as they search for a fifth consecutive Eredivise crown.
Their next test will come at Excelsior, with the form book suggesting Frank de Boer's men are clear favourites.
Ajax go into the game on the back of a 12-match undefeated streak in the league, while their hosts have not tasted victory in the top flight in six outings, and have conceded 12 goals in their previous three.
Elsewhere in the upper echelons, third-placed PEC Zwolle visit Cambuur while fifth-placed AZ host Utrecht.
The other fixtures in the last round of action before the break see Vitesse welcome Heracles and Willem II travel to Twente.
news_articleWed, 17 Dec 2014 22:22:45 +0000306906 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEredivisie: Heracles 1 Dordrecht 1Rock-bottom Dordrecht claimed a first Eredivisie point in 10 games, drawing 1-1 at Heracles after leading for much of the game.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/heracles-1-dordrecht-1-bottom-club-end-losing-streak
The first top-flight meeting between the two sides got off to an eventful start when Ryan Koolwijk opened the scoring for Dordrecht in the third minute.
Ernie Brandts' men held out for more than an hour thereafter, but Koolwijk then went from hero to villain when he was penalised for handball in the Dordrecht area, giving Oussama Tannane the opportunity to convert a 72nd-minute penalty.
Heracles, who had won their previous three matches,edge further clear of the bottom three as a result, while Dordrecht can at least take heart from claiming only their sixth point of the campaign.
Dordrecht had fortune on their side as they claimed a surpriselead.Koolwijk burst into the area before trying his luck with a cross-shot that beat Dennis Telgenkamp with the aid of a deflection.
Iliass BelHassani spurned a chance to immediately pull Heracles level and there was anothersetback for the hosts before the interval when captain Mark-Jan Fledderus was forced off with an injury.
However, the hosts eventually rescued a share of the spoils through Tassane, who converted from 12 yards after BelHassani had kicked the ball against the arm of Koolwijk.
news_articleFri, 12 Dec 2014 21:07:48 +0000304245 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com